It’s 4:00 PM. Not “time” for dinner yet. But your stomach is burning and growling so loud you think everyone around you can hear it. You know the feeling, but did you know that a hormone in your body is flooding messages to your brain that you need food? There are lots of hormones involved with the way our bodies recognize hunger and fullness, but the four main ones are Insulin, Cortisol, Ghrelin and Leptin. There’s also convincing studies that suggest the amount of sleep a person gets can alter how each of these hormones work. So, let’s get down to it,

Light and Creamy Potato Salad 8 Cups Potatoes (cubed)2 Cups Celery (chopped)1 Red Bell Pepper ((1 1/2 Cups), chopped small*)3/4 Cup Dill Pickles (chopped small)1/2 Cup Carrots (chopped small)Dressing:1 Cup Greek Yogurt1 1/4 Cup Mayonnaise (Regular Fat)1/3 Cup Green Onion (chopped fine)3 Tablespoons Fresh Parsley (chopped fine)1 teaspoon Salt1/2 teaspoon Pepper Boil potatoes until the cubes are soft yet still hold their shape. Strain and then pour potatoes into a large serving bowl. Put it in the fridge or freezer to chill while preparing remaining ingredients.Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.Add remaining vegetables to potatoes. Pour

I have learned a little trick through the years in baking and cooking. Most of the time, the amount of sugar called for in a recipe can be cut by a fourth and no one will notice it is missing. Well, with this recipe, I cut two-thirds of the sugar out, and no one has ever mentioned a word. It is still plenty sweet, incredibly delicious, but not really that nutritious. And that’s ok. This is a dish which makes an appearance once or twice a year at holidays, so we enjoy this as a special treat. I hope you

Does anyone else get a bit weary of the same old side dishes at summer barbecues? The chips and watermelon just aren’t cutting it for me lately, so I decided to mix it up with these super easy vegetable kabobs. They add some nice nutrition and color to an otherwise ordinary meal. Below is my fail-proof recipe for perfect vegetable kabobs. Enjoy! Grilled Vegetable Kabobs 2 Yams (sliced)2 Zucchini Squash2 Red Onions2 Red Bell Peppers3 Tablespoons Olive Oil (extra virgin)1 Tablespoon Seasoned Salt Soak 12 bamboo skewers in a pan of water while preparing vegetables. This helps to prevent the skewers

This Summer heat combined with being 30+ weeks pregnant is challenging me. Whew! All I want to eat these days is smoothies and anything cold or frozen. Naturally, I was really craving a fudgsicle on a particularly hot day a couple weeks ago, so the kids and I made homemade pudding and froze it overnight in our ice pop molds. We made both vanilla and chocolate, and they were SO GOOD! My 5-year-old took a lick of hers, tipped her head back and exclaimed, “I’m in HEAVEN!” After you taste these, you will agree they are WAY better than any store brand.

I never struggle to get my kids to eat this salad. It has classic, kid-friendly ingredients like cheddar cheese and bacon, but also contains some awesome sources of fiber and vitamins in the peas and fresh romaine. The secret to making this taste so good is the green onions and the semi-homemade Ranch Dressing. Yum. Try this one on your kids and let me know how it goes. Enjoy! Sweet Pea and Bacon Ranch Salad 8 Cups Romaine Lettuce (chopped)1 1/2 Cups Frozen Peas (thawed*)3/4 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese (shredded)1/4 Cup Green Onions (sliced thin)1/4 Cup Hormel Real Bacon PiecesRanch

Anyone else out there have kids who are sandwich haters? I am learning to be more creative as I pack school lunches for my kids each morning. Here's a delicious wrap that my anti-sandwich kids love. I love that it is packed with nutrition and it keeps them full for the school day. I hope your kids like this one too. Enjoy! Turkey Swiss Caesar Wrap Anti-sandwich kids will love this tasty wrap 1 large tomato basil tortilla1 ounce deli sliced turkey1 ounce sliced Swiss cheese1 cup romaine lettuce1/4 cup red bell pepper (sliced)1 tablespoon Caesar Salad Dressing In a

Several Sundays a year, this dish makes an appearance on our dinner table. It’s a perfect Sunday dinner because it's healthy, full of vegetables, and it can be assembled in the slow-cooker and ready to eat when we return from Church. Or, it can be made in a jiffy in the Instant Pot after Church with little effort and planning. And, of course, it tastes amazing, so I always feel confident serving this to our Sunday dinner guests. We love to eat this with mashed potatoes, but you could do rice or egg noodles as well. Enjoy!   Instant Pot

This salad is worth every bit of the labor it takes to make. Seriously! It is the spinach salad of ALL spinach salads! It’s got sweet, savory, salty and zesty flavors that work together to make a party in your mouth! I bring this to summer barbecues and serve it to dinner guests alike. Mel over at melskitchencafe.com first introduced me to a version of this salad. I have altered hers so many times that it has my little stamp on it. Everyone LOVES this salad. I hope you do too. Enjoy! Apple and Bacon Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Coming up with names for my food is so hard. This one is my attempt to tell you that there is more sauce and chunky tomatoes in here than meat. I’m not a fan of marinara made with lots of meat and only a tint of tomato, because I like my pasta to be juicy. And, of course, I am the type who uses meat for flavor and not typically as the main dish. Anyways, this sauce is amazing. It’s healthy, flavorful, and perfect for a busy day when you need a meal that can be prepped ahead of time.